LESSON 2 ~ Reading Paragraph 11 to 20

11. The 2022 Act has amended the Equality Act 2010 (“the Equality Act”) to introduce new, and amend existing, duties for local licensing authorities, taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers and PHV operators. The changes will help to further ensure disabled passengers can use taxi and PHV services without being discriminated against and that they receive appropriate assistance, wherever they travel, without being charged extra. (Choose correct one)

12. Prior to the changes, the Equality Act required drivers of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) to accept the carriage of wheelchair users, provide them with reasonable mobility assistance and refrain from charging them more than other passengers. However, the Equality Act excluded wheelchair users who could fold their wheelchair and travel in a non-WAV from the protections and provision of mobility assistance. It also excluded all other disabled passengers who do not use a wheelchair, from such protections when travelling in any taxi or PHV. (Choose correct one)

13. The Equality Act (as amended) now requires all local licensing authorities to maintain and publish a list of licensed taxis and PHVs they designate as being wheelchair accessible. This will identify the vehicles whose drivers are subject to the duties at section 165 and required to carry passengers while in their wheelchairs, provide mobility assistance and refrain from charging extra for this. (Choose correct one)

14. We have now made a regulation to raise awareness that London PHV operators are required to contract directly with passengers to provide the journey that is the subject of a booking. Regulation 9(14) of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators’ Licences) Regulations 2000 now states: “The operator shall enter into a contractual obligation as principal with the person making the private hire booking to provide the journey which is the subject of the booking and any such contractual obligation must be consistent with the 1998 Act and these Regulations.” (Choose correct one)

15. An important aspect of the Court’s judgment was that London private hire vehicle (PHV) operators should contract directly with passengers in the interests of public safety and to ensure that passengers have appropriate legal recourse in the event that something goes wrong during a private hire journey. It is essential from a public safety perspective, as well as in terms of regulatory compliance, for operators to ensure that their terms and conditions with both passengers and drivers comply with the law as confirmed by the Court. (Choose correct one)

16. Application forms now include a declaration for applicants to confirm that they are aware of their obligations to pay any tax that may be due on income they earn from their licensed trade. Applications received on or from 4 April 2022 that do not include this signed declaration on their paper or online application will not be processed until it is provided. (Choose correct one)

17. If you already hold a taxi or PHV driver’s licence with TfL or any other licensing authority, or have previously held such a licence that ceased to be valid in the last 12 months, you will be required to undergo an HMRC tax check as part of your application to ensure you have registered to pay the appropriate tax/taxes on income you earn from your licensed trade.

(Choose correct one)

18. As part of your renewal application you will be asked to provide a unique 9-character tax check code from HMRC. To obtain your unique 9-character tax check code, you will need to have a GOV.UK Government Gateway ID and password, which is the same portal that you will use to submit your online tax return. You will need to provide the tax check code on your application. (Choose correct one)

19. The Government continues to advise people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially when they come into contact with people they do not usually meet, when rates of transmission are high. From Thursday 24 February wearing face coverings will no longer be a Transport for London (TfL) condition of carriage on its services, but customers and staff will be strongly recommended to wear them if they are able to. (Choose correct one)

20. It is recognised that not all operators have written terms and conditions. All operators will need to demonstrate to TfL through their operating procedures, booking processes or otherwise that they enter into a contractual obligation with passengers to provide the journey which is the subject of the booking. (Choose correct one)